2010s Jiu Jitsu

Gordon Ryan is a New Jersey (USA) born grappler, known particularly in jiu jitsu’s no-gi and submission only circuit where he has beaten big names such as Gabriel Arges, Enrico Cocco and Nathan Orchard. A submission orientated competitor and one of the leading jiu jitsu figures of his generation, Gordon cemented his name as one of the top brown belts on the planet in 2015 by winning the Newaza Challenge and No-Gi World Championship, which led to his black belt promotion under Garry Tonon – this way becoming Tonon’s first ever student to achieve the rank.

Gabriel Arges is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Romulo Barral and Felipe “Preguiça”, who also trained extensively with Marcelo “Uirapuru”, competing for the Gracie Barra Academy. Arges made a name for himself in the lower belt divisions of the sport, particularly during his purple and brown belt campaigns (2013-2015) where he conquered important titles such as IBJJF World Champion (Gi/No-Gi), European Open Champion, as well as Pan America and American National Champion.

Mahamed Aly is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Lloyd Irvin, and a former student of Everaldo Penco as well as Antônio Rogério & Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. Aly made a name for himself in the lower belt divisions of the sport, particularly in the brown belt category where he conquered important titles such as IBJJF World Champion, European Open Champion, as well as Pan American (No Gi) and American National Champion.

Rikako Yuasa, also known as “Lady Sasa”, is a Japanese born, Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the prestigious Yukinori Sasa, being also one of the most accomplished female competitors of her generation. Competing in the light featherweight division (53.5kg/118lbs) for the Paraestra (Shinagawa) academy, Yuasa won important titles, such as the World Championship, Asian Open as well as European Open.

Manuel Ribamar, also known as “Riba”, is a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Rodrigo Pinheiro and Cicero Costha, being regarded as one of the top middleweight competitors of his generation in the sport. Born in the state of Amazonas – Brazil, Ribamar has had a few different coaches going up the ranks, but it was at Cicero Costha’s PSLPB academy that his grappling style truly developed, earning him titles at the World and South American Championships.

Victor Honório is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under José Honório Filho and a member of GF Team. On the 9th of May 2015, Honório turned many heads his way after reaching the 2nd place of Copa Pódio’s Heavyweight GP, one of the main professional events in the jiu jitsu circuit, as a fairly unknown brown belt. Since then Victor has been widely recognized as one of the most talented ultra heavyweight grapplers of his generation.

Mikey Musumeci, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Gilbert “Durinho” Burns and Jonatas “Tagarela” Gurgel, who is also known to have trained extensively with the Mendes brothers: Rafael and Guilherme Mendes. Musumeci made a name for himself in the lower belt divisions of the sport, winning sequential world titles from juvenile blue, up to brown belt, earning his black belt at the age of 18. Michael is also the younger brother of another high level jiu jitsu athlete, Tammi Musumeci.

Matheus Diniz is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the illustrious Marcelo Garcia, being part of an incredible generation of athletes produced by the respected grappling coach, a generation that included competitors such as Dillon Danis, Dominika Obelenyte, Jonathan Satava, Marcus Tinoco and Mansher Khera. Diniz made a name for himself in the sport, competing in the brown belt division, where he conquered important titles such as the World No Gi and Pan American.

Guilherme Augusto is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the illustrious Everdan Olegário, commonly known as “Mestre Dan”. A member of the Alliance academy – Cohab branch, an academy that has developed high end talent such as Sergio Moraes and Dimitrius Souza, Augusto made a name for himself in the sport’s lower belt divisions, winning important titles such as Brazilian National Champion and Sao Paulo Open champion in both his weight and the open weight divisions.

Yago de Souza is one of the top grappling competitors of his generation as well as a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Cicero Costha. Yago earned his reputation in the lower belt divisions, where he earned the world championship, European Open, Brazilian National Championship as well as the South American Championship.

One of the best grapplers of her generation, Luiza Monteiro is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, who’s career in the sport is commonly associated with the Projecto Social Lutando Pelo Bem team of Cicero Costha. One of the top athletes in jiu jitsu’s women’s division, Monteiro conquered numerous medals in a variety of weight classes, from featherweight to medium heavy.

Edwin Najmi is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Romulo Barral of the Gracie Barra academy (Northridge branch), a gym that has produced many talented grapplers, including Beneil Dariush, Pedro Araújo, Gabriel Larges, to name a few. One of the most talented grapplers of his generation, with a crowd pleasing submission orientated jiu jitsu style, Edwin Najmi climbed the belt ranks, stacking wins at the sport’s most revered tournaments, such as the World Championship, European Open and Pan American Championship.

Dominyka Obelenyte is a lithuanian-american grappler, being the first female Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the legendary Marcelo Garcia. Regarded as a true grappling phenomenon since her early teens Dominyka Obelenyte proved her star quality by consistently winning at the highest level of the sport, being one of the youngest ever world champions in an adult division (14 years of age), a deed only surpassed by Luzia Fernandes.

João Pedro “Somalia” is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Jonathas “Monteirinho” Couto and Eduardo “Jamelão” Conceição of Checkmat academy. Somalia burst into the grappling scene after winning two world titles at brown belt, later becoming a Pan American champion on his first year as a black belt, cementing his name as one of the top grapplers of his generation.

Tammi Musumeci is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who became one of the top featherweights in the women’s divisions at the young age of 19. Tammi Musumeci turned a few heads her way after she won the Pan American Championship in 2014 in her first year as a black belt, beating two former world champions on her way to the top.

Leo D’avila is a Jiu Jitsu black belt under Benevenuto Antunes, having become an accomplished grappler with medals at the highest level of the sport, such as the US Nationals, Brazilian Nationals and the Pan American Championships. D’avila is also a coach at the world class Atos Academy in San Diego.

Fábio Andrade is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete as well as a highly regarded coach of Nova Uniao’s BJJ team and a prime figure in the revamping of the team within the sport in recent years, mentioned by Protocolo BJJ as having ‘the midas touch’ due to his consistency in bringing new talent through his social project academy in Bangu.